New South Wales opposition leader John Robertson has resigned as Labor leader, following revelations he passed on a letter to a government department on behalf of Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis.
In 2011, Robertson forwarded an appeal by Monis to the Department of Family and Community services to have a supervised visit with his children on Fathers Day. He had an apprehended violence order out against him at the time, and was the subject of family court proceedings.
In stepping down, Robertson said: “It has become clear to me that I have lost the confidence of some of my senior Labor colleagues.”
He said he was “disappointed” that he wouldn’t lead the Labor party to the state election, on 28 March, but said stepping down was vital to make Labor a “genuine alternative” to the governing Coalition.
“I was never motivated by politics or high office … I just wanted to make a difference to people’s lives,” Robertson told reporters at a hastily convened media conference on Tuesday afternoon. “I accepted the challenge of helping Labor find its best self.
“Because this fight is bigger than all of us, I’m pledging my support to the next Labor leader.”
Likely contenders to replace Robertson include treasury spokesman Michael Daley and Luke Foley, Labor’s leader in the upper house.
Robertson said when he took on the role of state MP, he vowed to represent everyone in his Blacktown electorate, while not necessarily advocating for them.
He said he understood in hindsight how it looked to have passed on the letter on behalf of Monis, who died with two hostages when the siege in the Lindt cafe on Martin Place ended.
Robertson has been opposition leader since the 2011 state election, when former premier Kristina Keneally resigned after Labor’s crushing defeat.
He has been a member of the legislative council since 2008. Before that, he worked for a number of trade union groups.
Labor’s deputy leader, Linda Burney, will step up as acting leader. Burney said in a statement she took on the role with “enormous sadness”.
Robertson had been a “committed and hard-working leader” who had taken on the job at the “lowest ebb” for NSW Labor, she said.
She said the state parliamentary party would meet on 5 January to select a new leader.
